STOP 1: Colchester Historical Society
Hello! Are you ready to explore Colchester, CT and become a master of our town's history? Great! This is the place where you will start and end your tour. On this tour you will visit the Colchester Federated Church, Old Bacon Academy, the Old Colored School, the Old Colchester Firehouse, Day Hall, the Old Ginkgo Tree, and the Union Monument. You are currently at the Colchester Historical Society building. Check out the Colchester Historical Society website HERE!PLAY AUDIO ON SOUNDCLOUD
STOP 2: Colchester Federated Church
The Colchester Federated Church has stood in Colchester for a long time. It plays a big role in Colchester history. For more details about its history and a timeline of its events click HERE! updated-sound
STOP 3: Day Hall
Day Hall was built in 1857 and 1858. Day Hall used to be part of the Chapel for Congregational Church. In 1929, Day Hall was given to the Old Bacon Academy after being remodeled.PLAY AUDIO ON SOUNDCLOUD
STOP 4: Old Bacon Academy
A prominent local farmer amassed a small fortune after the American Revolution. Upon his death in December 1800, $35,000 (equivalent to $700,000 in 2019) was left for the establishment of a school. Construction began in 1801 and completed for November 1802, but did not actually open until the following year. Due to a contestment of the founder Bacon's will by his nephews, the opening was delayed until November 1803.Many prestigious people have walked these halls. Stephen F. Austin, founder of Texas was one of the earliest graduates. Besides Austin, Sen. Lyman Trumbull (author of the Civil Rights Amendments) and Gov. Morgan Bulkeley (CT governor, mayor of Hartford, and first president of the National League of baseball) are just some of the noted alumni.The school was considered public-private until the 1950s when the trustees turned over the management of curriculum to the Colchester Board of Education. New schools were opened in 1962 and 1993, however this building continued to be used for education. For many decades it was the public schools’ central office and most recently used as an alternative setting for local students.updated-sound
STOP 5: The Old Colchester Fire House
The Hayward FIre Company was officially formed on February 6 1854. At a borough meeting, officials voted to organize a fire company after 30 years of debate. Colchester’s largest employer, Nathaniel Hayward, offered to donate hoses, buckets, and other resources to get it started. The first fire apparatus arrived in October 1854 and was stored at Mr. Hayward’s rubber company until September 1855, when this building was finished.This building served the fire company from 1855 to 1988 when construction of a modern facility was completed about ¾ of mile northwest of here. Additional bays were added over the years to accommodate new equipment. The first motorized fire truck arrived in 1924. Subsequently, new equipment was added or replaced in 1935, 1948, 1958, and countless other times until the 1980s.During its time, this building served as jail, courthouse, and library in addition to it housing fire trucks. In modern times, it was used for Inter-County Ambulance (the local volunteer ambulance) until 1993, when ICA was absorbed by the fire department. After that, it was used for storage as well as for the Colchester Police until early to mid-2000s.With grant money, the building was restored for use as a museum. The numerous additions were demolished bringing the structure back to roughly what it would have looked like in the 1920s.updated-sound
STOP 6: Old Colchester Colored School
This building is a replica of the School for Colored Children that was in operation from 1804 to about 1840. When a site was selected for Bacon Academy, the one-room schoolhouse was rolled down the hill behind the church. The Bacon Academy Board of Trustees opted to reuse the building as a school to educate former slaves or the children of slaves. The original structure is on private property in Colchester.
STOP 7: Old Gingko Tree
This tree is sometimes called the "ugly" tree. However, most people don't know that this Old Gingko Tree has had a long history in Colchester. Click HERE to learn its story!PLAY AUDIO ON SOUNDCLOUD
STOP 8: Nathaniel Foote House
Have you ever wondered what the oldest house in Colchester is? Well, you're looking right at it. The Nathaniel Foote House was built in 1702, originally in the first settlement near what is today a golf course. Nathaniel Foote is credited with naming Jeremy’s Plantation, “Colchester” after his family’s place of origin in England. Sadly, Nathaniel never lived in the home he built as he died before it was completed. He is buried in Wethersfield. His family did remain in Colchester for the next few hundred years. His many generations great grandson has a street named after him, Dr. Foote Road.This house has been moved several times. In the 1930s, the State Police were building a barracks and this was sitting on the property they needed. Its final move was quite eventful. Loaded on an ox cart, the building unfortunately fell off of it on its way here. It tied up traffic for hours trying to get it back on.The Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) purchased and restored the house to a greater elegance and ornateness than it originally had as simple settlement house.The house is currently owned by the Bacon Academy Board of Trustees.updated-sound
STOP 8: Union Monument
The Union Monument was erected on September 17, 1875 and was sculpted by George E. Bissell. It is elevated on a 4' mound at the southern end of the 3.5-acre park known as the Town Green. Consisting of a base, tall pedestal, and soldier figure, all in granite, it is dedicated to those from Colchester who lost their lives in the war for the Union. This is one of two Civil War monuments in Colchester, the other is stationed in the northwest corner of Linwood Cemetery.
FINAL STOP: Historical Society
How was your exploration? We hope you learned a lot and became more aware of Colchester, CT's rich history. Please fill out this FORM to let us know how your visit went and to be entered into a raffle for marvelous prizes! Thank you for stopping by. Before you leave, can we recommed a bite at one of our town's delicious restaurants?
